Each year, Austin Partners in Education hosts the AISD Salute Awards ceremony to recognize outstanding school staff, volunteers and Partners from across the district. It may have been because it was held on Cinco de Mayo or it could have been the exceptional planning of Paige Fillipp and Megan Weed, but this year’s Salute had a new energy. If you didn’t feel it at the beginning, you couldn’t help but get into the festive mood when the Reagan High School drumline escorted the 2008 Teacher of the Year Eric Cruz into the banquet hall! Once again, Mr. Cruz gave a moving speech before announcing the 2009 Teacher of the Year Cindy Stocking from Dawson Elementary. (more…)